With the Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani-led putschists adamant about reinstating President Muhammed Bazoum, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has switched off the grid that supplies electricity to Niger Republic in response to a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
Nigerien electricity company, NIGELEC, said major cities in the land-locked country were already facing blackouts.
The development followed an emergency meeting by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wherein sanctions, including freezing utility services, were imposed on the Niger Republic over its coup.
According to a BBC report, the cities of Maradi, Zinder and Niamey had power for about an hour before it was switched off for up to five hours.
Power cuts are unusual in Niger, which normally has regular and reliable supplies.
In 2019, NIGELEC’s chief executive told the Ideas for Development outlet that Niger relied on Abuja for up to 70 per cent of its electricity supply.
The TCN has declined to comment on the power cuts in Niger.
But an anonymous source told the BBC the supply to Niger was cut on Tuesday following a presidential directive.
Meanwhile, in an effort to rid the tiny West African country of a military ruler, the defence chiefs from ECOWAS member states met yesterday at Nigeria’s defence headquarters in Abuja.
They were from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, and Cape Verde.
However, defence chiefs for Mali, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were absent.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff and president of ECOWAS Committee of chief of defence staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the Niger coup called for collective attention and a united response.
He added that ECOWAS frowned upon any form of illegal takeover of power, and entrenched it in the 2001 Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“The events that transpired in one of our countries on 26 July 2023, has reverberated across our borders, affecting us all. The recent coup d’état in the Republic of Niger is one event that calls for our collective attention and a united response.
“We must face the challenges of restoring democratic governance in Niger head-on, drawing on our shared experiences, wisdom, and collective resolve. Our decisions will have far-reaching implications for the ECOWAS region.
“The strength of ECOWAS lies in unity, shared values, and commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity. In this regard, we are tasked with a mission to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger and preserve germane humanitarian principles across the region.
“Our decisions will inevitably shape the lives of millions of people around the sub-continent,” he said.
Musa also said the sub-regional bloc “must face the challenges of restoring democratic governance in Niger head-on, drawing on our shared experiences, wisdom, and collective resolve.
“Our decisions will have far-reaching implications for the ECOWAS region. ECOWAS’ strength lies in unity, shared values, and commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity. In this regard, we are tasked with a mission to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger and preserve germane humanitarian principles across the region.
He noted that the task of restoring democratic governance in Niger was not going to be a walkover.
“We are not oblivious to the complex challenges that lie ahead. The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications. However, we cannot afford to be hamstrung by these challenges. Instead, we must confront them head-on, drawing upon our shared experiences, wisdom, and the strength of our collective resolve.”
For his part, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security Mr. Abdel-Fatau Musah said there was a need to act on the coup in Niger to stop it from spreading to other countries in the region.
“In the past three years or so, there are about eight to nine successful/unsuccessful coups in West Africa. Our organisation was exemplary in supporting the consolidation of democracy to the extent that just three years ago, all member states of ECOWAS were led by democratically elected Presidents. Today we are in reverse gear.
“We are not sure which country will be next if we do not arrest this situation West Africa is going to be a laughing stock of Africa and the world. Nigeria is a regional leader, there is no way this region can overcome these challenges without the leadership role of Nigeria.
“We are at an inflation point now, it seems like President Bola Tinubu is being challenged, soon after his declaration. We have this coup and the need to demonstrate that we can go beyond backing and bite.”
Musah said if the situation in Niger was sustained, West Africa would become a laughing stock in the committee of democratic nations.
The Ghanaian, who cited another failed coup attempt in Sierra Leone, said added: “In Sierra Leone, some officers were arrested for the same thing a few days ago. If we do not arrest the situation, West Africa will become a laughing stock. There is no way we can contain the situation without the leadership of Nigeria.”
Recall that Niger’s democratically Bazoum was overthrown in a military coup last week by his own presidential guards who stood watch outside his palace.
The constitution was suspended and Tchiani, chief of the presidential guard, was installed as the head of state.
The military government has now announced the reopening of Niger’s borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad while its borders with Nigeria remain closed.
A delegation from ECOWAS arrived in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Wednesday as mediation continues following the coup. It is led by Nigeria’s former military head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, who oversaw that country’s transition from military rule to democracy in 1999.
Nigeria’s most senior Muslim leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, is also reported to be part of the team. He also wields huge influence in Niger, part of which used to be in the Sokoto Caliphate, a powerful kingdom before colonial rule.
Evacuation flights have now started to arrive in Europe. Some 262 French citizens touched down in Paris early on Wednesday amid anti-French sentiment in the country.
The coup has prompted demonstrations against the former colonial power, with the French embassy coming under attack.
France says it has no plans to repatriate about 1,000 French soldiers stationed there as part of efforts to counter Islamist militants.
With ThisDay, Punch, BBC reports
